Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program (CEJA)
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity · State of Illinois
At a glance
Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program (CEJA) is an open Illinois state grant opportunity from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (State of Illinois). Applications are due October 30, 2026. Individual awards are listed as $3M – $6.5M, with about 3 awards expected and $16M in total estimated funding. It is listed on the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance. Cost sharing is not required.
Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.
Key facts
- Sep 22, 2026Posted
- Oct 30, 2026Application deadlinenext date
- Opened
- Sep 22, 2026
- Close date
- Oct 30, 2026
- Award floor
- $3,000,000
- Award ceiling
- $6,500,000
- Est. total funding
- $16,000,000
- Expected awards
- 3
- Matching funds
- Not required
- Funding instrument
- Grant
Program details (as published on the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance)
- CSFA number
- 420-30-3137
- Program
- Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program (CEJA)
- Announcement type
- Initial
- Source of funding
- State
- Indirect costs allowed
- Yes
- Technical assistance session
- Offered : Yes; Mandatory : No; Date : 09/30/2026 : 1:00 PM; Registration link : https://illinoisstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gfx7C2ArQ-2uMg18AC2-Fw#/registration
- Beneficiaries
- Illinois workers that are interested in following a career pathway to clean energy occupations. Illinois businesses will also benefit from the increase in trained and qualified workers.
- Types of assistance
- Project Grants
- Deadline details
- The application due date will be outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity
- Award procedures
- The Department will follow a merit based review procedure as outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity
Who can apply
The source record does not list applicant types. See the official notice.
Additional information on eligibility (from the listing)
Eligible organizations include entities that: 1. Provide employment, skill development, or related services to members of communities in the proposed regions; 2. Demonstrate relationships with local residents and other organizations serving the communities in the proposed regions; 3. Have a history of serving low-wage or low-skilled workers from economically disadvantaged communities within the proposed service regions; and 4. Demonstrate relationships with construction and building trade DOL-registered apprenticeship programs, industry contractors, and contractor associations. Eligible applicants must demonstrate their effectiveness in serving equity investment eligible persons, engaging construction and building trade apprenticeship programs, and have the ability to meet performance targets. Priority will be given to applicants that are a team of multiple partner organizations that collectively demonstrate the following: • The ability to effectively serve diverse and underrepresented populations, including by providing employment services to such populations; • Agreements with registered apprenticeship programs for direct matriculation of Preapprenticeship graduates. • An agreement with North American Building Trades Unions (NABTU) to utilize the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum or successor curriculums; • The ability to recruit, prescreen, and provide pre-apprenticeship training to prepare workers for employment in the construction and building trades; • Capacity to provide supportive services, ongoing engagement during and beyond training, and job retention services to participating trainees; • Capacity to operate satellite training locations to increase accessibility to equity investment eligible persons throughout the service region(s).
Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.
What it funds
Purpose and description as published on the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance.
Summary
Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Centers (“Pre-apprenticeship Centers”) throughout the State that will recruit, prescreen, and provide pre-apprenticeship skills training, for which participants can attend free of charge and receive a stipend, to create a qualified, diverse pipeline of workers prepared for careers in the construction and building trades and clean energy jobs opportunities.
Objective
Investments in clean energy technology and infrastructure, funded through CEJA and other state and federal funding sources, will generate significant construction, installation, maintenance, and repair activity in Illinois. Historically, these investments have not benefited underserved populations and communities. The Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program and the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program are two of several programs created by CEJA to rectify these historical inequities. To create a qualified, diverse pipeline of workers prepared for careers in construction and building trades and clean energy jobs opportunities therein, the Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program creates 3 regional Pre-apprenticeship Centers throughout the State that recruit, prescreen, and provide pre-apprenticeship skills training.
Program terms
The program-specific terms and conditions will be outlined in the Notice of Grant Opportunity and the Grant Award as required by the program at 20 ILCS 730/5-40
Application procedures
Application procedures are outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
How proposals are selected
The criteria for selecting proposals is outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity
Full announcement & documents
The full announcement has the complete rules — page limits, required attachments, evaluation criteria and any letter-of-intent dates. Files download directly from Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance.
How to apply
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Program contact (as published)
Diana Fuller
Diana.Fuller@illinois.gov
Quick answers
When is the deadline for “Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program (CEJA)”?
According to the official notice, applications are due October 30, 2026. The notice adds: “Due by 5:00 p.m. Central time.” Confirm the deadline and submission time with the agency before applying.
How much funding is available through “Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program (CEJA)”?
Per the notice, individual awards are listed as $3m – $6.5m, total estimated program funding is $16,000,000 and the agency expects to make about 3 awards.
How do I apply for “Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program (CEJA)”?
Applications go directly to Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, not through GrantsJunction. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.
Related open opportunities
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